Editorial / Tabasco - A State of Emergency

Tabasco - A State of Emergency

Tabasco - A State of Emergency

2 November 2007 Editorial 21

On October 29th, due to the recent heavy rains that have relentlessly hammered that particular section of Mexico, the gulf state of Tabasco awakened to one of the worst disasters in the modern history of this country. Yesterday, on November 1st, the sun came out for the first time in several days, and the people of Tabasco had no other choice but to face water... lots of it.

When the rivers had started to rise, the Mexican Army had built some barriers to protect Villahermosa, the capital city of Tabasco, but these were fiercely destroyed as the rivers overflowed their banks with a vengeance. As you read this, the citizens of Villahermosa are effectively isolated from the rest of the country. There is no electricity or even money, since the few ATM Machines that still work are already out of cash and no one can get in to restock them. Not that money would do much good at this point. About 90% of the businesses, including restaurants and hotels, have closed their doors, and the few that are still open are only helping soldiers and civil volunteers with food and water while it's still available.

Tabasco looks like New Orleans did in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, with the main difference being one of scope. In New Orleans, the flooding was mostly in the city. The flooding in Tabasco is throughout the state, including the large city of Villahermosa. Another main difference? Thanks in part to the quick response of the authorities and the Mexican Army, only one fatality has been reported so far among the one million or more disaster victims.

How can you help?

Yucatan Governor, Ivonne Ortega, has instructed the Civil Protection Unit of Yucatan to set up several collection centers to collect as much help and supplies as possible. The centers are accepting donations, including medication, canned food, blankets and bottled water.

These collection centers are located in the following Merida locations:

  • "Siglo XXI" Convention Center (on Paseo Montejo past the Gran Plaza)
  • Industrial and Commercial Development Secretary (Calle 59 x 62 y 64 Centro)
  • Escuela Primaria Moises Saenz also has a collection center (Calle 74 #468 x 49 y 51... this one is in the Santa Ana neighborhood)
  • Cruz Roja (Red Cross) (Calle 68 x 67 y 65. The collection center is toward the back of the property)
  • DIF Yucatán (on Avenida Aleman)
  • Poliforum Zamná (at the Kukulkán Sports Complex)

As of today, Friday November 2nd (a major Mexican holiday and a day when most businesses are closed around the country for that reason), there have been 2 shipments sent already to Tabasco. These shipments have included water, milk, blankets, medication and food enough for roughly 10 thousand people, but much more help is needed. If you can, please bring whatever you can to one of the collection centers. If you cannot donate goods, but would like to donate money, you can go to any Banamex, Scotiabank or Bancomer and indicate that you would like to deposit money for the damnificados (victims). Just tell the teller "Deseo hacer un deposito en apoyo a Tabasco" (I want to deposit some money in support of Tabasco).

Also, we will offer our Paypal account as a way to get your money to the victims. If you send your money to this account with a note that indicates 'donation to Tabasco', we will take the equivalent amount of pesos and deposit it into a bank account here that has been set up for the victims.

Our hearts go out to the Mexican people in Tabasco. We will keep our ears to the ground and let you know of any other way that you can help. And if anyone knows of other means of contributing to this worthy cause, please leave us the information in a comment.

Vaya con Dios, Tabasco!

Articles about the disaster in the press:

A million people hit, Guardian
Calderon Pledges Disaster Aid, BBC
Floodwaters Devastate Tabasco, NY Times
Flooding Ravages Mexico State, Telegraph UK

Comments

  • Jane 13 years ago

    Hello, I will be coming to Merida on 24/12 with a small group (7) and would like to know where we can make a donation to a worthy cause - I don't know if the Tabasco flood people are still in need of donations? Or if not, is there another cause we can make a christmas donation to?

    Many thanks,
    Jane

  • Tim 13 years ago

    If you want news of Tabasco, go to tabascohoy.com.

  • mexpat 13 years ago

    Thanks for this info! We're going to plan our route and check it on the pdfs they provide!

  • Working Gringos 13 years ago

    We posted this link in the News this week. But here it is for you directly. Should give you the most current information on the roads in Tabasco...
    http://aplicaciones.tabasco.gob.mx/contingencia2007/carreteras_afectadas/carreterastab.html

  • mexpat 13 years ago

    Any new news on the state of the state of Tabasco? We are planning to drive from New Jersey to Playa del Carmen in January and can't seem to find any info on how Tabasco is now, a couple weeks later. Has the water resided? Is it still insane there? How difficult will it be to drive through/is it even possible?

  • freddie watson 13 years ago

    I think that this is a shock to the world, about the flooding in mexico. People are dying in the this town and it is a shame to the earth.

  • MARY SANTOS 13 years ago

    YESTERDAY I HEARD FROM MY SON THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS TERRIBLE DISASTER. HE STATED HE NEEDED MONEY FOR CLOTHING AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO SEND HIM THIS MONEY MY SON IS ADVENTUROUS AND IS A NATIVE OF LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME! I HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM HIM IN REGARDS TO WHERE I SEND HIM ANYTHING. MY EMAIL IS MSANTOS@OYHFS.ORG PLEASE SOMEONE RESPOND I AM A VERY CONCERED MOTHER

  • Babs 13 years ago

    Muchas gracias for the PayPal link for making a donation -- I've just sent USD 50 for the people of Tabasco.

    I've been to Merida once... hope to return in the next 6 months or so... and Ihope that things in Tabasco will be improved enough by then for me to visit -- which I've been hoping to do on this next visit.

    Babs

  • Tim 13 years ago

    I want to say that this is a very serious tragedy for many, many people. However, the news services seem to be getting their news from politicians secondhand. The politicians seem to believe they will get more aid if the news is exaggerated. How can a million people be displaced if the flood inundated an area where only 1/2 million live? And a lot of them are on high ground?
    I liked the last photo in this article. A young man is saving what is important to him. His America jersey.

    Anyway, in MexConnect today were articles which more or less claimed that the flood showed how poor Mexico really is. And of course the articles are hogwash. In Mexico, no matter how poor one might be, he always has food to eat and a place to sleep. And usually no one is cold. The same cannot be said of Africa, Honduras, or even New York City. The biggest loss from this flood will probably be TV sets, refrigerators and other electronics. Concrete houses can be hosed down and cleaned with clorox. Unlike New Orleans.

  • Franz Gebhardt 13 years ago

    Hi,
    help is needed in all possible ways in this situation. The Red Cross is one of the best ways to do so. If you wish to spend I can take the money there bymyself and take it there twice a week. I will give you the names of the persons who got your donations and give you a report with digital fotos how it has been used. I live on the way to Acapulco and I lve in Mexico for 33 years now. You can call me on my cel-phone by dailing 0115215523381048 or send an e-mail to this page.
    May god bless you all.

  • Khaki 13 years ago

    Tim - I remember that from a gazillion years ago (literally) - when MexConnect was the only gringo web board in all of Mexico - there were a number of retirees in Villahermosa - but no clue about now.

(0 to 11 comments)Next »

Post Comment

Yucatan Living Newsletter

* indicates required
Yucatan Living All Rights Reserved © 2021 | - Founded 2005 Advertise on Yucatan Living